Just after some feedback on Ohlins rear shock please.
As the Original shock ( in my case a Tenere ) don't require any servicing, but if I was to change to an Ohlins unit do they need periodic servicing/ maintenance, or are they fit & forget once set. Also how long do they last before they start to go 'off' so to speak?

An Ohlins shock (like any other shock) only needs servicing when something goes wrong or wears out. There is no routine servicing as such.

An Ohlins will last as long as, if not longer than the bike (within reason). However, the OE Sachs shock starts to go off the moment it's ridden out the show room! My original shock got to the point where I couldn't stand its increasing sponginess any longer at 10,000 miles (16,000 Km). When removed it was pretty clear it was goosed, both in terms of the spring and damping.

Best thing I ever did to the bike was fit a new 'proper' shock.

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I'll digress you say Ohlins but their are other options assuming you order the same spec shock like Wilbers or Nitron and many more.

I run two bikes with Ohlins and another with Wilbers there's little to choose the road bike with less suspension has done well over 30,000 miles and really is due a fluid change(Ohlins have a new piece of kit that does it in seconds)the Tiger has done 35,000 and that has had the fluid changed twice due to circumstances(re valving)rather than necessity,my XT has stock suspension a combination of being too tight and waiting for a secondhand one to turn up on ebay and it reminds how bad stock suspension is and I include any make or model of bike you like.

As is the way with these threads the question is always 'Is it worth it' and 'Oh blimey I can't believe the difference'

Oh!!! And what colour spring you prefer!!!!

My Tenere is coming up to 10k miles and I've noticed a definate 'seat of the pants ' feeling of something lacking in the suspension. As you say it's money well spent upgrading it if the bike is a keeper. What other shock besides Ohlins is worth considering. ...I see various ones advertised in Adventure bike magazine but worry if they are up to the job...? Steve

Indeed. Hugely varying prices too. You can be spending anything from two or three hundred to a grand or more (English Pounds that is).

Just to reiterate... ANYTHING is better than the stock shock!

I happened to go for a Yacugar/Hyperpro on mine. All depends what your personal requirements are (riding style, bike useage, comfort etc), how important brand cachet/bragging rights are to you down the pub or at a bike meet, and more crucially, how deep your pockets are!

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From my experience folks always compare price which is a mistake you need to compare spec because most quality shocks with the same spec come out very close on price.

Are you going to ride two up? Because if you do you'll need a remote preload you can alter such in seconds compared to faffing with a C spanner and hearing all the grit in the thread as you turn it.

Does a shock have separate compression and rebound it is possible to survive with an ajustment that does both but boy it's irritating when you feel you only need to ajust one and not the other.

And of course just as always it comes down to the depth of your pocket!!! and always have in the back of your mind selling it the better spec the easier it will be to sell so view it as a rental!!!.

Ohlins/Wilbers/Nitron/if you like purple!! Hyperpro but to be honest what ever you fit will be light years better than stock

Thanks heaps for all that fellas.
My bikes covered just over 10,000km's at present, a suspension upgrade was always on the cards at some point I was originally thinking next year. But the Tax man here must of had a guilty conscience this year as he decided to give me some back which is nice .
I started looking at luggage but it wouldn't get used much in the near future so thought the suspension upgrade would give more smiles per mile at the mo. Tecknic have had some good reviews (based in Oz fortunately) so are high on the list. Having custom tuned suspension must also be a bit like having a tailor made suit as it makes the things you do in it that bit more special
My daughter is now keen for ride outs on the back so it would be subject to some 2up riding. Hmmmm a bit of gold bling in front of the swing arm & folks reworked is very appealing now